Both the “E” Award for Exports and Export Service is given for demonstrating a sustained increase in export sales over a four-year period.

Each company was presented the award from Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross for their significant contributions to increasing America’s overall exports into more than 200 global markets.

“Job creation is a top priority for the Trump administration,” Ross said. “As we kick off World Trade Week, it is a pleasure to honor these companies who increase our domestic exports and create good-paying jobs for the American people. Congratulations on this exceptional achievement.”

Lafe’s was noted by the secretary for its focus on trade shows to support its export growth model. Additionally, Lafe’s was highlighted for its ability to modify products and packaging to support international sales.

Karen Parker, Director of CS Austin, said this type of recognition highlights how hard businesses in the Austin area and Texas as a whole work to be successful in a globalized economy.

“The “E” Award is one the most prestigious business awards given out each year, and to have one from right here in Austin is very significant,” Parker said. “This type of recognition shows that Texas companies are taking advantage of overseas opportunities to expand their reach, remaining competitive in our globalized economy.”

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https://lafes.com/blogs/news/lafe-s-natural-body-care-recognized-with-presidential-level-export-award2017-05-24T11:32:00-05:002017-05-24T11:32:47-05:00Lafe’s Natural Body care Recognized with Presidential-Level Export Award!Brittney Carlson
Lafe’s is one of 32 companies, organizations nationwide recognized as recipients of the President’s “E” Award and “E Star” Award for exporting excellence during a ceremony in Washington, D.C., May 22.

Both the “E” Award for Exports and Export Service is given for demonstrating a sustained increase in export sales over a four-year period.

Each company was presented the award from Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross for their significant contributions to increasing America’s overall exports into more than 200 global markets.

“Job creation is a top priority for the Trump administration,” Ross said. “As we kick off World Trade Week, it is a pleasure to honor these companies who increase our domestic exports and create good-paying jobs for the American people. Congratulations on this exceptional achievement.”

Lafe’s was noted by the secretary for its focus on trade shows to support its export growth model. Additionally, Lafe’s was highlighted for its ability to modify products and packaging to support international sales.

Karen Parker, Director of CS Austin, said this type of recognition highlights how hard businesses in the Austin area and Texas as a whole work to be successful in a globalized economy.

“The “E” Award is one the most prestigious business awards given out each year, and to have one from right here in Austin is very significant,” Parker said. “This type of recognition shows that Texas companies are taking advantage of overseas opportunities to expand their reach, remaining competitive in our globalized economy.”

September 13, 2016 — Austin, TX — Based on an independent, comprehensive assessment administered by the independent nonprofit B Lab, Lafe’s Natural BodyCare was recognized by B the Change Media for creating the most positive overall community impact. All honorees, including Lafe’s, will be featured in the upcoming fall issue of B Magazine and on B the Change’s digital platform, bthechange.com. They were also honored at the first-annual Best for the World Celebration & Awards Ceremony at the University of California, Berkeley’s Haas Business School.

Lafe’s Natural BodyCare is honored in the Best for Environment list, which includes businesses that earned an Environment score in the top 10 percent of more than 1,800 Certified B Corporations on the B Impact Assessment. The full assessment measures a company's impact on its workers, community, customers and the environment. The 143 winning companies in the Environment category come from 15 industries and 17 countries.

The Environment portion of the B Impact Assessment evaluates a company’s environmental performance through its facilities, materials, emissions and resource and energy use. It considers a company’s transportation/distribution channels and environmental impact of its supply chain. The assessment also measures whether a company’s products or services are designed to solve an environmental issue, including products that aid in the provision of renewable energy, conserve resources, reduce waste, promote land/wildlife conservation, prevent toxic/hazardous substance or pollution, or educate, measure or consult to solve environmental problems. Honorees scoring in the top 10 percent set a gold standard for the high impact that business as a force for good can make on nature around the world.

The 143 Best for Environment companies come from 15 different industries such as manufacturing, financial services and engineering. B the Change Media simultaneously released separate lists recognizing B Corporations as Best for the World (overall impact), Best for Workers, Best for Customers and Best for Community, which can be found at http://best.bthechange.com.

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https://lafes.com/blogs/news/mother-earth-living2016-07-11T10:39:00-05:002016-07-11T10:56:08-05:00Mother Earth Living FeatureJake Weinheimer
We are proud and honored to be a part of Mother Earth Living’s “Best for Personal Care” article in the July/August edition of their magazine. Lafe’s Organic Insect Repellent is featured as a DEET-free, natural product that is safe and effective in protecting against mosquitos and ticks.

Wearing DEET and other forms of insect repellents can be harsh on your skin. Lafe’s Organic Insect Repellents offer an alternative to DEET and citronella-based products.Made with Germanium, our insect repellents repel both mosquitoes and ticks, are gentle on the skin, don't leave you feeling sticky, and provide a pleasant, non-chemical aroma.

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https://lafes.com/blogs/news/96907974-lots-of-changes-change-is-good2015-11-05T00:00:00-06:002016-03-09T23:43:32-06:00Lots of changes...change is good!Jake Weinheimerhttps://lafes.com/blogs/news/96908230-a-sad-and-disturbing-case-from-britain2014-11-25T00:00:00-06:002016-03-09T23:46:34-06:00A Sad and Disturbing Case from BritainJake Weinheimer
I ran across a sad and disturbing case a few days ago about a 12-year-old boy in Britain who died from using too much deodorant.

The story, in the Daily Mail, details the case, in which the 12-year-old sprayed copious amounts of Lynx brand deodorant on himself while in a cramped bathroom, and inhaled the fumes, which triggered an irregular heartbeat that led to his untimely death. The coroner in the case noted that the dangers of inhaling excessive amounts of the product in closed spaces were marked clearly on the packaging.

I gather, from the report's details, that Lynx is very similar to Axe Body Spray, a highly-fragranced brand of cologne containing butane that is popular in the U.S. The very fact that this product needs warnings about its use is a good indicator that people -- especially children -- should steer clear of using this product. While the Daily Mail story is obviously an extreme case illustrating the dangers of such products, it concerns me that people are using these chemicals as part of their daily routine, sometimes without even reading the warnings or ingredient lists on the labels.

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https://lafes.com/blogs/news/97170886-insider-s-view-social-enterprise-in-action2014-10-16T00:00:00-05:002016-03-11T18:05:46-06:00Insider’s View: Social Enterprise in ActionJake Weinheimer
On October 23rd, the founder of Lafes Natural BodyCare, Lafe Larson will be giving a speech in Austin, Texas about the challenges of social entrepreneurship. Lafe will join three other B-Corps business owners to give guests an inside look at the challenges of starting a socially responsible business in today’s economy. Each B-Corp will share an actual challenge that they faced as a social enterprise and invite the audience to share insights and solutions.

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https://lafes.com/blogs/news/97171014-travel-sizes-keep-you-healthy-no-matter-where-you-go2014-08-14T00:00:00-05:002016-03-11T18:07:59-06:00Travel Sizes Keep You Healthy No Matter Where You GoJake WeinheimerDid you know that Lafe’s carries travel sized products? All of Lafe’s roll-on and twist stick deodorants are 3 ounces or less, making them the perfect size for vacationing! These deodorants can be stowed away in a purse or carry-on bag without causing any trouble in the security line. Now you can stay organic and chemical free, even when you’re on-the-go.

For even more packing convenience, Lafe’s Crystal Stick deodorant comes in a mini size. Lafe’s crystals offer 24 hour deodorant protection and are guaranteed to keep your clothes and skin white-streak free. And for moms, Lafe’s baby healing and diaper cream comes in a travel size as well. Just throw it in your diaper bag and you’re ready to go!

Most plastic products contain chemicals that can prove harmful to infants and children. At Lafe’s, we know how important it is to keep our children happy and healthy. Through unique packaging, we are able to effectively reduce your child’s exposure to these chemicals.We use a special Baby-Safe Plastic for all of our moms, kids, and infants products to make sure that our containers are safe for everyone.

What makes plastic dangerous?

Conventional plastic contains harmful chemicals, like BPA and phthalates, that can leach out with changes in temperature. Exposure to even a low concentration of these chemicals has been linked to altering rates of growth, time to sexual maturation, sperm count, learning abilities, and prostate and ovarian functions. Women and children are particularly susceptible to these abnormalities, which is why it’s important to limit exposure to these toxic chemicals at the earliest stages of life.

Safe with Lafe’s

Lafe’s is the only skincare line to use Baby-Safe Plastic in our moms, kids and baby products. We have partnered with companies that are actively seeking healthier solutions and practices to keep toxic chemicals out of our children’s bodies. We believe that awareness of these potential problems is essential, because what goes on your body goes in your body.

For more information on the hazardous effects of conventional plastics, visit these sites:

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https://lafes.com/blogs/news/97171910-lafe-s-supports-sherry-s-climb-against-the-odds2014-07-09T00:00:00-05:002016-03-11T18:16:12-06:00Lafe’s Supports Sherry’s “Climb Against the Odds”Jake Weinheimer
If you Like our Facebook Page, you might have seen a post about Sherry Erickson and her Climb Against the Odds. Lafes donated to support Sherry in her climb up Mount Shasta. The team climb is organized every year in support of the Breast Cancer Fund‘s groundbreaking work to prevent breast cancer by eliminating our exposure to the toxic chemicals and radiation linked to the disease.

Sherry was kind enough to share the experience of her climb with us…

"It was fun! Hard. No, brutal. Exhilarating. My asthma kicked in on the climb to base camp (due to drought conditions the trail was so dusty that I often had to pause for the dust in front of me to settle enough to continue). Didn’t anticipate this. Also didn’t anticipate the pace. Two of us (57 years old) were roped up with 25-35 year olds, and from the moment we hit the trail the pace was full out, pausing only briefly for sips of water and a quick bite of a bar.

I trained for six months, hard. So hard that I didn’t have a sore muscle in my body after getting back (except my neck from holding up the helmet at a curious angle against the backpack).

Nevertheless, at about 12,500 the asthma took control and I could no longer breathe, and so now I was 1,600 feet short of the summit when I had to turn around. I never quite got control of my breathing after the hard start and was moving too slow. They have a rule that if you don’t anticipate summiting by a certain time, they turn you around so as to get everyone off the mountain in a timely manner. There were a few of us who had to turn around due to time.

The bummer was that I had just done a fourteener here in Colorado the week before which might have been my mistake, as that is when my asthma flared up. I could have saved my energy (and my wind) for Shasta but didn’t foresee it flaring that badly.

That said I am going to continue training (booked my personal trainer for a year) and plan to join the team next year! I’ll train differently, (not so hard the week before the climb) and have requested that those of us who might be slower for whatever reason get to start an hour or so earlier. A 2am start wasn’t early enough to keep up with those whippersnappers.

As one of our guides said, “Summiting is optional, getting down safely is mandatory”. It was a 3-hour hike down after we turned around, and I couldn’t have agreed with him more in that moment.

All is well, and next year will be different. Thank you for your support!!!

At the end of the day the image that I was left with was this: WAY. TOO. MANY. FLAGS. ON. THAT. MOUNTAIN. Too many names, too many flags, too many of our sisters lost due to whatever reasons breast cancer was allowed to flourish and prevail in their bodies.

Thanks to Lafe’s and others who have made a commitment to get the chemicals out of our bodycare products, hopefully this too shall come to pass…

Have a great weekend!"

Sherry, you are awesome! We look forward to hearing about next years climb!

Sherry will be participating in the 2015 climbing team. Interested in joining the team? Sign up for the next Climb Against the Oddshere.

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https://lafes.com/blogs/news/97172038-lafes-natural-care-is-b-corp-certified2014-06-20T00:00:00-05:002016-03-11T18:17:45-06:00Lafes Natural Care is B Corp Certified!Jake Weinheimer
Since Lafes was founded in 1997, we’ve been passionate about using only natural and organic ingredients in our quality personal care products. But just this year, Lafes has been certified as a B Corporation!

And why are B Corps so great?

The B Corp designation is for businesses that are focused on making our world a better place through a social or environmental standpoint. They have to meet certain performance requirements and legal requirements in order to receive the certification. These B Corp businesses are creating waves and serving society by helping to pass laws across the country.

Learn more about what it means to be a B Corp in this video:

Lafes creates organic, natural personal care products while continuing to educate consumers in hopes that one day natural and organic will become mainstream while synthetic and chemical become secondary.

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https://lafes.com/blogs/news/97172102-austin-american-statesman-interview2014-05-02T18:18:00-05:002016-03-11T18:18:49-06:00Austin American-Statesman InterviewJake Weinheimer
It was great to be a part of this article from the Austin American-Statesman on our friends at PlastiPure who developed the EA Free resin we are using in our baby products packaging coming out in May. Check it out!]]>
https://lafes.com/blogs/news/97172166-lafe-s-baby-products-featured-on-dadlabs2008-12-04T00:00:00-06:002016-03-11T18:20:30-06:00Lafe’s Baby Products Featured on DadLabsJake Weinheimer
Austin’s lucky to have a group in town like DadLabs, who take a fun, scientific approach to a number of products on the market for babies and kids. I did a great interview a few weeks back with Clay Nichols, one of the DadLabs’ dads, and it’s up on their site now.

It’s a good introduction to our baby products, and I get to talk about the attention that goes into the products we make and how we package them. (And it’s also a good introduction to the practical yet whimsical approach of the DadLabs team.)

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https://lafes.com/blogs/news/97172806-two-big-announcements2008-11-28T00:00:00-06:002016-03-11T18:23:20-06:00Two Big Announcements!Jake Weinheimer
Greetings from San Francisco, where I’m spending a few days on Lafe’s business. I couldn’t wait until I got home to share some great news:

We’ve decided to do something special for the holidays — we’re offering two-item and four-item options for our Lafe’s Baby Line as Holiday Gift Packs. It’s the first time we’ve done a holiday gift pack option with our products — we’re so excited about the reception to the baby line since it came out this past summer, and we wanted to introduce more people to these organic, simple formulations — all packaged in baby-safe plastic, of course (free of Bisphenol A, phthalates, and other harmful chemicals). Buying the holiday gift pack also gives shoppers a discount — the gift packs are priced 20 percent lower than buying each product individually.

We also are pleased to announce that we’re in our first retail store in Austin — Wheatsville Food Co-Op! Up until now, we’ve had great success selling online to shoppers in our hometown. But this is a way to give Austin shoppers more options, and Wheatsville is a great store to partner with. They’ve been in Austin since 1976, and they’re very in line with our philosophies of sustainability and quality organic products — this FAQ page is a great introduction to a store we love.

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https://lafes.com/blogs/news/97172486-why-we-don-t-use-fragrances-in-our-baby-products2008-11-28T00:00:00-06:002016-03-11T18:21:45-06:00Why We Don’t Use Fragrances In Our Baby ProductsJake Weinheimer
There’s a new study out from the New England Journal of Medicine, showing that “repeated topical use of products containing lavender oil and/or tea tree oil may cause prepubertal gynecomastia, a rare condition resulting in enlarged breast tissue in boys prior to puberty, and for which a cause is seldom identified.”

Part of the reason we keep our products fragrance-free is because of the growing concern that essential oils — even ones as seemingly benign as lavender and tea-tree oils — may carry a significant enough level of estrogenic activity that they affect children. This new study is an indication of the importance of clean and simple formulations in any product for children. Therefore, we have creating clean-smelling baby products without adding anything to the mix, and will continue to do so, especially in light of studies like this.

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https://lafes.com/blogs/news/97172934-a-new-hope-and-a-new-approach-to-the-blog2008-11-07T00:00:00-06:002016-03-11T18:24:12-06:00A New Hope (And A New Approach to the Blog)Jake Weinheimer
No matter how you voted on Tuesday, the sight of President-Elect Obama addressing the crowd in Grant Park in Chicago offered a new and inspirational hope for the nation — underscoring the idea that anyone can be anything they want to be in this country through hard work and perseverance and good ideas. From watching Obama’s speech on Tuesday night, I sense that he thinks it’s more important to get to work than to celebrate this historic win.

We do face a lot of issues. I’m particularly concerned, of course, with the safety of products we use, and protecting consumers against harmful chemicals in everyday products. Readers of this blog know I’ve been concerned about BPA for a long time. We’ve seen the FDA come out and declare that BPA is not dangerous. We then had the scientific community balk at that statement. Now, the FDA is backtracking and taking another look at BPA. I hope that Obama’s victory will provide the national leadership that supports concerns from the consumer’s perspective, and reduces influence from industries that dominate review boards and oversight committees. That doesn’t just apply to Bisphenol A or phthalates or other estrogenic activity chemicals.

You also might notice the blog has changed its name to lafesblog.com. That change has been in the works for a few weeks — this announcement just happens to coincide with the historic change we’ve just witnessed. You’ll see this blog, over time, encompass additional topics that interest me and other areas of expertise I’ve developed in running a growing business with a green approach.

I am passionate about what I do — providing people with clean, simple, and organic personal care products — and I’ll talk about aspects of that in future blog entries. But I’m also part of a community of entrepreneurs and bloggers who are committed to green living, and I’ll introduce you to some of them down the line as well. I’ll still bring you news about Bisphenol A and phthalates and other related topics as I run across them — the current situation demands continued vigilance and the need to share as much information as we possibly can.

I hope you enjoy the blog’s evolution!

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https://lafes.com/blogs/news/97172998-back-from-expo-east-in-boston2008-10-28T19:24:00-05:002016-03-11T18:25:13-06:00Back from Expo East in BostonJake Weinheimer
It’s been a while since my last post. I’ve been at Expo East, one of the premiere natural products trade shows in the nation, held in Boston this year. It was an incredible success, and I’m appreciate of everyone I got to meet while I was there. One thing that struck me on the way home, as I went over the reactions to the baby line, is that the packaging issue is becoming increasingly important for retailers. Consumers are being more aware of the dangers of estrogenic activity chemicals, and packaging is no longer an afterthought. When government officials and retailers come together to call for bans on products, as Whole Foods and San Francisco reps did last week, it’s a sign that we’re all beginning to rethink our relationship with plastic packaging.]]>
https://lafes.com/blogs/news/97173126-some-disturbing-news-about-phthalates2008-10-10T19:25:00-05:002016-03-11T18:26:00-06:00Some Disturbing News About PhthalatesJake Weinheimer
There’s been so much focus on Bisphenol A lately (including on this blog) that it’s almost easy to forget the dangers of phthalates — which are also contained in plastic resins and can also disrupt hormonal activity. USA Today (courtesy of Liz Szabo, one of my favorite reporters out there right now) just posted news of this troubling report from Environmental Research. The study ties phthalates to incidences of abnormal genitalia in baby boys. What I find most troubling about the report is that phthalates are in relatively common items and can then find their way into “drinking water, breast milk, and household dust.”]]>
https://lafes.com/blogs/news/97173190-95-percent-of-us-positive-for-bisphenol-a2008-10-03T01:00:00-05:002016-03-11T18:26:49-06:0095 Percent of Us Positive For Bisphenol AJake Weinheimer
I ran across an article on Yahoo’s Shine online publication, reprinted from Eating Well, with four interesting facts to help you determine whether or not you should be concerned about your use of plastics and Bisphenol A. Included in the article was one particularly startling fact — according to a 2005 Center for Disease Control study, 95 percent of those screened tested positive for BPA.

The article also mentions dangers of BPA leeching from plastics, particularly when hot or boiling water come in contact with the plastic — which may or may not include during dishwashing. (The handful of studies on this have returned mixed findings.)

But it’s the 95 percent positive statistic that raises my eyebrows. While adults reportedly are exposed to much lower levels than would be deemed dangerous by the FDA, we know that it can be transferred from mother-to-baby through the umbilical cord. And if you’ve been following this blog or other sources talking about the BPA controversy, you know the concerns around children being exposed to BPA.

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https://lafes.com/blogs/news/97173446-kudos-from-natural-solutions2008-09-26T19:27:00-05:002016-03-11T18:27:53-06:00Kudos from Natural SolutionsJake Weinheimer
We just got some great news from one of our favorite publications! Natural Solutions, a magazine dedicated to “vibrant health” and “balanced living,” just awarded our Hemp Oil Roll-On Deodorant as one of its Editors’ Picks for its Beauty With a Conscience Awards. What makes us proudest about the award is it honors us for having principled standards for our products. As they say in their introduction of the award winners on the website:

“Unfortunately, even products marketed as ‘natural’ can come packed with hormone disrupters, carcinogens, toxic by-products, and heavy metals. In fact, the average woman applies more than 150 chemicals through her skincare daily. Knowing the link between this unnecessary toxin exposure and serious health concerns, we made the decision to honor companies that use only the cleanest, healthiest ingredients available.”

That, of course, is right in line with our philosophy — especially for our baby products. The decision to go with EA-free packaging for the baby line came from the question that guides all our products: “How can we make this as clean and as simple as possible?” We’re glad that Natural Solutions is out there taking notice of companies like ours motivated by the desire to create the cleanest possible products.

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https://lafes.com/blogs/news/97173574-more-scientists-and-consumer-advocates-weighing-in-on-bpa-debate2008-09-17T19:28:00-05:002016-03-11T18:28:48-06:00More Scientists and Consumer Advocates Weighing In on BPA DebateJake Weinheimer
There was very interesting news in the Bisphenol A debate yesterday — as detailed in this USA Today article, more and more scientists and consumer advocates are coming forward in the debate over whether or not the chemical is safe. A published article just released in the Journal of the American Medical Association links Bisphenol A to higher incidences of heart disease and diabetes, and yesterday’s FDA hearing again revisited the agency’s recent ruling declaring BPA to not be a danger at current exposure levels.

I believe the more we study Bisphenol A, the more we’ll learn about its dangers. I think we know enough now to stay away from Bisphenol A as much as we possibly can — which was the impetus for us to create baby products packaged in EA-free packaging. You’ll note the USA Today article gives readers advice to avoid Bisphenol A, including steering clear of non-recyclable plastics with the #7 symbol on them, especially in the microwave or dishwasher. The government may eventually reverse its position on BPA, but in the meantime, concerned consumers have to be vigilant.

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https://lafes.com/blogs/news/97173766-organics-not-just-for-health-food-stores-anymore2008-09-10T19:29:00-05:002016-03-11T18:29:23-06:00Organics: Not Just For Health Food Stores AnymoreJake Weinheimer
A few weeks ago, I attended a big trade show in Florida featuring a number of major U.S. retailers. I enjoy the opportunity to help retailers and distributors discover what Lafe’s is all about, but I also value attending trade shows because I learn what’s happening. What I learned at this last trade show was that organic products are in higher demand than ever from traditional retailers. While health food stores still carry a wider selection of organic products, more and more stores will be making room for organics in the future.

Part of this has to do with the growth of organic products. I saw presentations throughout the weekend that showed only slight projected gains a specific product, but significant growth for the organic version of that product. The message was clear: Prepare for the increased demand in organics.

I’d like to think this is due to more and more people looking for clean and healthful options in the products they buy, whether it’s what they put in their bodies or what they put on their bodies. In addition to the work Lafe’s has done to prepare our baby line for its recent release, we also reformulated our deodorant line — the one which launched Lafe’s in 1992 — and relaunched it about the same time as the baby line. It gave us the chance to bring cleaner and purer formulations to our customers.

And if what I saw at this recent trade show continues, it should be easier for you in the coming months to find organic products like ours in a store near you.

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https://lafes.com/blogs/news/97173830-new-developments-in-the-u-s-government-s-bisphenol-a-debate2008-09-04T19:30:00-05:002016-03-11T18:30:12-06:00New Developments in the U.S. Government’s Bisphenol A DebateJake Weinheimer
Several weeks ago, the Food and Drug Administration declared that Bisphenol A did not pose a threat for humans, despite a growing number of observers sounding their concerns. Now, it seems that the U.S. Government is reconsidering — this new MSNBC article reports on the National Toxicology Program repeating its initial findings from April. They express “some concern” over Bisphenol A leading to developmental problems in children.

Certainly, this isn’t the last word in the debate, but as the MSNBC report indicates, some manufacturers and retailers are already going ahead with Bisphenol A-free alternatives despite the FDA’s recent ruling. Of course, the just-launched Lafe’s baby line is packaged in plastic bottles free of Bisphenol A, phthalates, or other estrogenic activity chemicals.

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https://lafes.com/blogs/news/97173958-lafe-s-baby-line-is-here2008-08-28T19:30:00-05:002016-03-11T18:31:00-06:00Lafe’s Baby Line is Here!Jake Weinheimer
We’re excited to announce that we’ve finally done it! Our long-anticipated line of baby products is on its way to stores. The line includes baby shampoo and bodywash, massage oil, baby lotion, bug spray and mother-to-be deodorant — all at least 95 certified organic (thus earning the USDA’s prestigious green seal) and all contained in plastics free of estrogenic activity chemicals. This combination of organic purity and baby-safe plastic makes this a truly worry-free choice for parents who are concerned about Bisphenol A, phthalates, and a number of other lesser-known endocrine disruptors.

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https://lafes.com/blogs/news/97174022-austin-business-journal-article-on-lafe-s-in-mexico2008-07-28T19:31:00-05:002016-03-11T18:31:41-06:00Austin Business Journal article on Lafe’s in MexicoJake Weinheimer
Did you know that there’s an increasing demand for healthy and green personal care products in Mexico?

There was a great article in the Austin Business Journal recently detailing our plans to make Lafe’s available in Mexico. It happened thanks to Austin Community College’s International Business Institute. We’re one of a select group of companies that the Institute represented on a recent trade mission to Monterrey. We learned some very interesting statistics on the trip regarding Mexico’s population. Two that stood out for me in particular were that 44 percent of Mexico’s population is 20 years old or younger, and a quarter of the population is at the upper middle class income level.

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https://lafes.com/blogs/news/97174150-commonly-used-baby-skin-care-products-contain-chemicals-that-put-infants-at-substantial-risk2008-06-02T19:33:00-05:002016-03-11T18:33:22-06:00COMMONLY USED BABY SKIN CARE PRODUCTS CONTAIN CHEMICALS THAT PUT INFANTS AT SUBSTANTIAL RISKJake Weinheimer
I came across this article by Dr. Darlene McCord and it confirmed a lot about what many of us in the natural products industry have been describing for years. I would like to publicly thank Dr. McCord for her fine research.

Infant Skin The arrival of a new baby brings many concerns and issues for new and incumbent parents. While new parents are faced with a myriad of issues for the first time, incumbent parents have to deal with the information explosion and change in thought on issues which have evolved since their first parenting experience. In addition, when parents have a second child, if the sex is different some of the issues are also new. Chief among the issues for both new and incumbent parents is the proper care of newborn skin. In fact, in many surveys of parents of newborns this issue often ranks first on the list of concerns. For example, in one study published in the journal Bedside Nursing, a group of mothers with infants under the age of 15 months was asked to consider the chief problem they faced in their babies’ first year. The study reports that the most common concern was how to care for their babies’ skin. Not only are new parents unaware of how to treat their newborn’s skin, but most pediatricians are also unaware of optimal infant skin care. Pediatricians are given very little exposure to pediatric dermatology in medical school and residency training. The minimal experience they do have is usually with severely diseased skin, rather than the care of healthy, but vulnerable skin, as is the case with newborns. This topic is also not addressed in most textbooks of pediatric medicine St. Louis, MO: C.V. Mosby Co., 1983. The lack of clinically available information leads to the continued use of harmful chemicals on infants. Shockingly, while trying to treat the newborn cautiously and safely, the average newborn is exposed to as many as 48 different chemicals without consideration of the potential toxicity of the chemicals or the products that contain them.

A full-term newborn’s skin is only 40% to 60% the thickness of adult skin, thus rendering it considerably more vulnerable and more permeable. The ratio of body surface area to weight is up to five times that of an adult. Thus, the combination of thinner skin and high body surface area ratios render the infant at significant risk with any integrity disruption of the skin. The skin of premature infants is of even greater risk as it has a significantly less developed stratum corneum when compared to term babies. Accordingly they are at even greater risk of thermal instability due to transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Hence, the skin is a critical protectant of the infant for water and thermal control. When improperly cared for, an infant’s skin can be a serious potential health hazard.

Hazardous Ingredients in Baby Skin Care Products Many commonly used baby skin care products contain potentially very harmful ingredients. Baby skin care products containing dyes (artificial color) should be avoided as many of these artificial colors are known sensitizers and may result in dermatitis and allergic reactions. As this may become a health concern, dyes in products should be avoided. Fortunately, they are not life threatening. However, many of these products contain additional chemicals that may be life-threatening and must be unequivocally avoided. Three commonly used baby skin care chemicals that must be avoided are talc, propylene glycol and glycerin.

Talc One of the most dangerous ingredients in baby skin care products is talc. It is a common ingredient of the most popular baby powders in use. In a survey conducted by Departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Il, 47% of the respondents used baby powder (talc). Another study of baby powder usage found that 69% of parents routinely applied baby powder to their newborns’ skin. In this study parents used the baby powder because they believed that the powder killed bacteria and yeast and prevented diaper rash, neither of which is a valid action of baby powder. Fewer than 500 of the respondents were aware that aspiration or ingestion of powder (talc) was a health hazard.

Baby powder use has been associated with morbidity and mortality due to inhalation . In a review of talc related infant deaths, it was found that of the 25 cases reviewed, fatality occurred in 20% of these reported cases. Based upon the potential hazard of talc use, baby powders containing talc should be discouraged for infants.

Propylene Glycol and Glycerin Propylene glycol has been studied for its toxic effects that include seizures, sudden collapse, cardiac arrhythmia and asystole, hepatic damage, renal damage and hyperosmolality. In a survey conducted on neonatal skin care practices, the authors warned against the use of propylene glycol and glycerin on infants. They cited the associated risks of hyperosmolality and seizures . Propylene glycol is the second ingredient listed on the world’s leading baby lotion ingredient disclosure. While baby products containing propylene glycol and glycerin may bear names of “trusted” companies, further review of the wisdom of their use is warranted. Remedy products contain less than 0.30% propylene glycol.

Mineral Oil Mineral oil is a hydrocarbon that is processed from crude oil. Many people confuse the name as having the connotation of containing vitamins and minerals, rather than its actual meaning which is derived from the earth’s crude oil. Mineral oil is a separation component along with kerosine and gasoline. While the Cosmetic Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CTFA), the leading industry lobbying group, has pointed out that mineral oil should not get the same treatment as other hydrocarbons such as kerosene and gasoline, the Commission continues to pursue the closure regulations . While mineral oil has not been studied to the same degree in the same pediatric literature as talc, propylene glycol or glycerin, it is clear that the Commission’s findings will trigger interest in warning against its use on infant skin. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is preparing a ruling that would mandate child-resistant closures on baby oil that contains more that 10% mineral oil. Beyond the available data, with the risk of other hydrocarbons well known in the causation of various cancers, it seems extremely unwise to apply a hydrocarbon to the delicate skin of a baby. This is especially true when no nutritive value of mineral oil to the baby or the skin can be identified, and there are many other, better options for skin ingredients.

Conclusions While trying to do the best thing for baby, use of many commonly available baby skin care products is actually or potentially harmful to babies. Increasingly, parents are realizing the importance of early exposure of babies to damaging compounds in their first months of life. The marketplace is not only ready, but in many ways, through their purchasing choices for themselves, demanding natural alternatives with better health implications for their baby’s skin. McCord Research has developed a line of skin care products that can be used on babies. The line of skin care products is natural and has eliminated or greatly reduced potentially harmful ingredients. Remedy products, distributed exclusively by Medline Industries, were developed by scientist and physicians. This is the most scientifically developed skin care line in the marketplace and is environmentally-friendly as well as baby-friendly.

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https://lafes.com/blogs/news/97174598-bpa-is-getting-major-media-attention2008-04-18T19:36:00-05:002016-03-11T18:36:36-06:00BPA is Getting Major Media AttentionJake Weinheimer
Check out this very interesting piece that ran on NPR on April 16th:

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https://lafes.com/blogs/news/97174470-another-amazing-ap-story-on-bpa-and-effects-of-plastics2008-04-18T19:35:00-05:002016-03-11T18:35:48-06:00Another Amazing AP Story on BPA and Effects of PlasticsJake Weinheimer
I almost can’t keep up with the influx of news surrounding the potential harmful effects of BPA in plastics. I urge you to read yesterday’s Associated Press story.]]>
https://lafes.com/blogs/news/97174662-the-today-show-highlights-harmful-effects-of-bpa2008-04-10T19:37:00-05:002016-03-11T18:37:21-06:00The Today Show Highlights Harmful Effects of BPAJake Weinheimer
We knew it was only a matter of time before major media would begin to pick up on the story of how harmful chemicals in plastic bottles could be having powerfully negative effects on people, specifically expressed through hormonoal dysfunctions. Please take a look at their story on Bisphenol A which just aired:

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https://lafes.com/blogs/news/97174278-big-box-stores-say-no-to-bpa2008-04-04T19:34:00-05:002016-03-11T18:34:59-06:00Big Box Stores Say “NO” to BPAJake Weinheimer
Last week was momentous. Corporate America is finally starting to get the picture regarding the possible harmful effects of toxins like BPA– especially in baby and children’s products. First, Wal-Mart announced it is removing all baby items with BPA. Now, Toys-R-US is doing almost the same thing by phasing such products out. Great news! Check out these articles on the matter (click article title to link to article) . . .